Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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? VOL. X.?New Series. UNION C. II., SOUTH CAROLINA, MARCH 21 NUMBER 12r _ . v. ' IIIiai V' M I 111 I I ... I I - - - ' - - 1 ' -J < I ? i - -1? 1 II l-'l I I 1 mm MMvvwMaw&iivi auuviMi&va AUli DLH8IBLELETTER. I have writtcu so much on agricultural subjects that theso is but little left for mo to say; yet in the doprcsicd feeling in agriculture in our State, in fnot all over the country, I bog leave to express the opinion in this communication that nil is not lost nor is our case dosperato ; but if wo will do our part, with a will that knows not how to fail, the future is exceedingly hopeful. Agriculturo is the foundation of all other industries, aud uo ono can boleivo that this groat country can bo held down long under this depression. Our young men who have gono earnest h/ to work, with a determination to sticl( and succeed, are hopeful and doing Well. ' It is the old mea< who were raised iu other days in nfHuoncc, and the idle young inon and thoso who seek an easy life through politics, who?Vacant and groan most over tho hard times, and hope for relief through some amendments or destruction of law, both moral uud State, instead of thoir owu strong arms, who nro trying to give tone to public opinion for their own scUb.h ends, who arc damk "ging society and the dearest interests of tho W rru? I *1-- 1 * uiulu. a iiu uruvu, iuc uoocsi, mo maustrious man should not look back and grieve over tho past; that, with all its pleasures nud errors, is gone and can't be recalled; but as the God of Nature sends his gcuial sun-rays to warm and gladden the earth and start tho youug plants to bud and grow, so let the vital forces of our human nuture work us new encrgiod and new industries, and castiug behind them all tho past, with its depression and gloom, look only to the future with a determination to go to work and succeed, and nothing will prevent success. I know it is hard, very hard, to get into the habit of work, but with the habit onco formed, every man is the happier for it. Aud, first, let u. >egin from to-day to prepare for a crop, both of tobacco aud coru, according to our means and ability. Now is the time to begin. Every uiau with ouo horse or ouc ox, cud do~souicthing. If he hus neither aud uot the uicaus to get either, hire to, or get into copartuership with some odo who hus, uud go to work. Don't undertake too uiuch of any ono crop, but make a little of nil; aud whutever you do uudertake, do well. Plow thoroughly aud work it wellj suve all tho ashes uiudo in clcauing up your ground or in any other way, if only a gallon in a place, aud drop it in your corn hills, aud save and put on all other manures of every kiud, but don't go in debt for manipulated fertilizers, they will not pay on com at presents prices, and on tobacco only if you have the uiouey in hand to buy thctn ; and I repeat, work thoroughly what you undertake. I know the prices of both staples are very low, but 1 think they are now at bottom, ond if tbcre is any change, it will be for the better.? Tlicy will pay, howovcr, at present prices, if uiado with the strictest economy. It will pay in the sweet sleep produced by the consciousness that you have made an effort to do something for yoursolf and your State, and have not been sitting down in idleuess, perhaps at a cross-road store or grog shop, froaning over the bard times superinduced y idleness and political heresies. It will ivit# in (Kn prninnln vaii m wam* Kpa?1? mmm vmw vMt*ui|/<v J vr % ?vv ?w juu? miulh" ore and children, oven if the balance-sheet at the end of the year shows only your bread for your labor. After you rcrop and garden is planted (don't neglect tho garden, for out of that alone you you can live), prepare from one to five acres of land for turnips for your sheep the following winter ; they will grow on most any well-prepared light grouud, and will feed forty sheep to tho aero of turnips, in all the weather in winter that thev usually require feed ia this climate; and there is no industry or s-tock that pays as well in the South a as fifty to a hundred sheep well cared for; they will invariably, from wool and lambs, pay first enot or 100 nnr Mnt in n ?oor if wnll m?n I' Aged Mid protected from dog*, and every man can and should make his own dog law with a phial of strychnine. Our wise legislators aro afraid to do it. Those suggestions are addressed to every man who owns ouo hundred acres of land or more, who is willing to work, and who cun command capital euough to rent one hundred acres or more, and it is more applicable to the man that owns or can rent and stock a larger farm ; but my advice to a renter with small capital is, not to undertake too much, and to a large laud ownor, with small ability to work it, to rent out what he can't work well. Helioving that we are at bottom prices for all agricultural products, tho chances are that the futuro will pay all who will practice judicious economy in that calling. if vaa tae/Io mw faiAn/l \f t) ? ? - *?* jl- ivu viuuuj uij ?n?uu *unjur xv* uuy?, 19 wnui ?o waut, Souio of it may bo a good thiug for the South aud agricultural sections, but a whether is it better to raiso tereuu's by a protective tariff (for our Fodoral govern mout is heavily in debt and most have revenues), or by direet taxation of tobacco, ootton and sugar of the South and incomes of the North?for the South have none. 1 think a revenue tariff, incidontaly protective, tho best. The North, by protective rovonuo laws, have established themselves in manufactures bo as to oompete with the 'world in the manufacture of almost oil fabrics ozcopt silks, and the time is nosr at hand when they will no longer want protects tion, because it will mako the South a produ ccr instead of a consumer of their manufacures. What Wo is consumers nt our barndoors?we want the loom, the furpacc and the anvil locatod alongsido of our plows, hoes nud pastures, so as to save the enormous transportation costs of our raw materials from and manufactured supplies back to us. What wo especially want is economy in the administration of government, Federal, State,' and especially couuty and municipal?the latter is a glorious burden, under this Stato Constitution vc arc living. Economy in living, my friend 11. to tho contrary. Wo have not economized in living in tho South as compared with the rural districts of Franco or our Western States. Iu tho lattei, their cost of living _on hog and hominy, with only a frying-pan for kitchen furniture, is four and a half cents a day for an adult; their habitations for single men, a hole dug in the sido of the hill, with skins for blankets; and for families, a one room board shanty, partly covcrod with dirt to make it warm, with a pot, oven, fryinc-Dan and coffee-not fur Ifitnhnn P.. ? W ? I ^..VMVU ' iiiturc ; u looking -glass, a tin-basin, and a few chairs complete their cstablismeut, with no help except their own stroug arms.? Their living is ou hog at two cents a pound, and hominy, made of corn, at thirtceu couts a bushel. Taxes, which aro four times Virginia rates, is almost tho only money they havo to pay out, except for clothing, which is of the plainest and cheapest kind. I have rcccutly had au acquaintance with this Wostcru method of living, and speak with a knowlcdgo of what I say. Now our corn ought to pay us at thirty-five cents if theirs will at thirteen cents; our hog product ought to pay us at five cents a pound, aud beef seven ceuls a pound if theirs will at two aud thrco cents, provided, however, wo will practice the ccouomy that they have to do. I aui told "we can't livo that way, wc should bo discarded from society. Do you not discard yourself from society, the finest that I have any kuowledgo of ou earth, from n climate and soil, considering all its advantages, proximity to thescaboard, &c.. the best that God has ever given to mau. For what, to get rid of taxes? No ; they are higher there than hero. To get more product from the soil ? No; for whero tho prices at the baru-door aro estimated, we have the advantage. Then why ? To practice economy ? Then, can't that be done hero? I don't mean to live like a ground-hog, for that is not necessary ; but i: ; _ ?i * . uvu eouuuuucaiiy, ana yet iiko noncst gcntlcinen, as our forefathers did on this sauio soil two hundred years ago ; but lived within their income or product. Then, what is the matter ? us Major llagland asks. My opinion is, free-trado will do us but little good, unless we can tariff against our Northern manufacturers; that is impossible.? Hut we want all our productions manufactured at home; we want a market at our door for nil our raw material, and wc?rant to supply our manufacturers with our meat and bread, without cost of transportation; aud wo want iron cotton, tobacco, &c., man-ufactured bore and our peoplo to stay at home and do it, and not pay tribute to Old England or New England to do it.? Thcu what is the matter? "lis not thut tho earth don't produco her increase, but it is, first, that our people havo not learned to curb their extravagant, hnhits in nrnnnrfinn Tin ? ... w vuu tnivti i/l uill products. It is csscutial that they should at oace do that. It is bccauso wo don't, by our statutes (State I mean), encourage manufactures so as to give a home consumption of our agricultural supplies; it is bocause our young men don't stay at home and work and ecouomizc; it is because our old men have been brought up iu tho days of affluence and of politics that don't suit this age, and we must either reform our habits or surrender our Stato to bankruptcy aud disgrace. The latter, Qod forbid. Thore is 110 earthly necessity for it.' I have alroady written too long. Let me say to my brother furmera, in conclusion, cheer up; all is not yet lost.?Robt. Beverley in Southern Planter and FarmerPersonal Attention to Business.? Nothing but ultimate ruin starea that far uior in the face who does qo4 pay personal attention to tho minute details of his farm. There are a thousand small leaks about tho management of an ordinary furm, that, if not closely attended to, will surely bring the most hard-working farmer to ruin kud bankruptcy. A large portion of the farmers can attribute their present coudition to no other cause than a lack of close attention to tho small details of the furui. Close supervision of tho machinery, tools, Btock and their food, a place for everything and everything in its place. No hired help is as uiuch interested in attending to tnese duties as the iarmor himself?such a course would in a few months or years at most, enable many farmers who are now on a down hill grade to again begin to ascend. and if persarvcd in will sorely make headway against what would otherwise look doubtful.?Maine Farmer. I venerate old age; and I lovo not the man who oan look without omotion upon the sunset of life, when the dusk of evening begins to gpther over the watery eye, and tho shadows of twilight grow broader and decpor upon the understanding.?Longfellow. . 'I 1 ' ' # / Pumpakinq Corn Land.?Whero bottom lauds exist, they belong as a matter of course to the com crop. Put in comparatively few instances has their full capacity bcou realised. This is never done until the water level?that is. tho poiut at wheh water may generally be found by sinking a hole in the ground?is some three feet below the surface. This enn only be accomplished by deepening the main branch or water channel until it is as uiany feet below the level of tho lower portions of the land. Oft-times such deepening of the main channel will effectually drain a piece of bottom, without any additional ditching. In other cases whore bold springs arise reditches must be cut- To avoid loss of land theso should always be blind or covered.?If not hitherto attcneded to, such ditching should be dono at once, that surplus water may havo ample time to run out before plauting time. Another important point is to protect bottom lauds from being flooded wau water from the hill aides. If not thus protcotod they receive a double portion of tho rain fall and with less facilities usually for surface drainago, necessarily require a longer timo to dry off. With proper draining and protection against surface water from adjacent hills, bottom lands would dry off and bccouio ready for tho plough, almost as soou as upland. Such a result would greatly facilitate farm work and by permitting an earlier planting of corn materially increase the crop. Uplands should bo bedded with scooters, the water furrow afterwards opened with a wide, rather short shovel, and corn and manure put iu water furrow. A very high bed aud a deep sinking of tho waterl'urrow into the subsoil, are not desirable, hence bedding with a scooter is suggested. The water furrow in which the corn is planted ought to bo sfficicutly wide to admit of the seed being covcrd by two furrows of a small plough, making a narrow ridge and keeping water from settling over tho grain. In all early plantings cover the seed very ligtly and throw dirt to the young plants very slowly in tho oarly stages of cultivation.? Experience has shown that light nippings by frost uo not injure corn?plant therefore just as soon as the danger of freezes is over. When the portiou of u plant above ground is retarded in growtlfeby Cold?it seems to dovclopo a better root system? hcuco our best crops of wheat in cold wintors?hence the superiority of early sown to late sown oats. It is said that oats roquiro tico months at least of cool or cold wi-athcr to make a good crop. They mature the stalk and grain in very hot weather, but they form the roots mainly in cool weather. As two chances of striking good seasons aro better than oue, we always udvisc that a portion of the corn crop bo planted with some early variety. The "early golden dent" from Pennsylvania, hac proved a very good variety for this purpose, in this region of country.?Southern Cultivator. ? ?? ? Thought it Madk no Difference.? "That tenon docs not fit the mortise by a quarter of an inch," saM 'an employer to u young carpeuter who had just begun to work for him'. "I thought that for a garden gate you would not b$, particular, and it would make no difference," wnswored the you?g utan. But it did mako a difference. It made j:xr * juo* niu uiucreuce ooiwccu (DO young car-, pouter having a steady summer job at good wngee, and having his lime unoccupied upon his hands. , The employer found no further fault; but when the gato was finished, ho paid the maker without another word and dismissed him. Tho next day thero was another man in his place. lie happened to be a man who thought it did make a difference how everything was done; he always did his best, and ho kept his situation until tho end of tho season. So it happens. Frequently somo little thing which was not expected to attract attention, is noticed by some ono to whom tho excellence of tho work has commended itself, and tho man who has mado pains taking tUo rule of all his labor is surprised by a sudden and unlooked-for accession to good fortune. He has been brought into noto by some unconsidered trifle, which was dooo merely because it was his habit to do everything as well as possihlo. On tho other hand, many a man who is lamenting his ill fortune, and don't know what to attribute it to, owes it to sotfte such carelessness io the way of doing his work as that which doopied the young carpenter to a summer of idleness. <? Everybody is willing to soy his prayers whon he is in a tight fix and sees no other way out. Tho Lord is the lest resort of some people, and their religion is after the fashion of tho sailor, who nm*?l or.4-??'.4 1 ?1 - ? ? - J " ?MUU IHllUj V/ liUfU| I haven't asked anything of you for fifte in years, and if you'i get mo ashore I won't ask anything for flfteon years more." The little shoeblaok also had a system of theology after wbioh a great many take pattern. He told an enquiring missionary that he always said his prayers at night because he was asleep and didn't know what might happen ; but never in the morning because any bright boy oan take care of himself in the day time. TABLE ETIQUETTE. Bread should bo broken, not cut; but if you dou't like broad "cut" it. In "breaking" bread use a curb bit. Split n biscuit with your fingers, instead of opcuing it with a knifo like an oyster. If the biscuit be hard, a beetle and wedge arc admissnblc in the bc9t society. Salt should never bo put on the tablecloth, but on the side of your plate. If, however, you want to pickle tho table-cloth in brine, you must put salt ou it, of course. A barrel of salt table-cloth would come in play should your pork give out during the winter. Do not rattle your knife and fork. A j Mrt ff| be found more muaiEat your soupfrom the side of your spoon, either iuside or outside. Do not take game in your fingers. This, however, does not apply to a game of cards. When asked what part of tbe fowl you prefer, answer nromntlv. Tf vmi w-m* whole of it don't hesituto to say ao. Do not drink with the spoon in your cup. Put it in yotfr pocket. Forgetting it, you will be so much ahead. A close regard to this rulo has enabled Ben Butler to accumulate a oompotcncy. It is Lad taste for the host and hostess to fiuish eating beforo their guests. It is better to move their chairs so as to finish behind them. Never Icavo the table until all are through, without sufficient excuse. The sudden entrance of a policeman with a warrant for ynnI* ?? roAut j vviuottlulcd dulquluuk excuse in polite circles. Pay no attention to accidents or blunders on the part of sorvnuts. If Bridget blows herself up while cncourageing tho fire with korcoseuc, keep right on eating just as if you had never (kora) scne it. Never help yourself to articles of food with your kuifo or fork. Use a harpoon or a lasso. When you have finished your meal lay your knife aud fork on your plate sido by sido, with tho handles towards tho right, a little south by southwest bearing northerly when the wiud is off the sideboard quarters. I ?[Exchange. Arson and Outlawry in Ohio.?Columbus, March 8.---A week ago to-night, a . concerted attempt was made to burn this citv. no less th.nn ?pv?n fimo j , wvt vu u?vo uwiu^ aiuuicu at different poiuts, and every uight since other ntteinps have boon made. At an early hour this morning four buildings were tired and entirely consumed, and attempts were made to firo several others in different parts of tho city. The losses so far will amount to $120,000. AH day the city has becu in a high state of excitement. The Council me' iu special session to-day and offered rewards for the apprehension of the incendiaries, and ordered the closing of all saloons and places of public resort after 10 o'clock P. M. All persons found on the streets aftor that hour are to be arrested uuless they are well known or can give a satisfactory account of themselves. Special policemen are on duty on every block, and all tho military companies are under arms patrolling the streets. The police commission and a number of prominent citizens were in conference to-night. As a result a largo number of citizens were sworn in as detectives and assigned to duty. Hitherto only warehouses and barns have been fired, but this morning attempts were made to burn private residences. There aro a large number of tramps in and around the city, and tbey are undoubtedly responsible fur the burning. Tho citizens are greatly exoited and nearly everybody goes armed. There arc fears of an alarm of fire tonight, and if one is given a terrible riot will no doubt ensue, as the citizens would proceed to lynch the tramps and all suspicious persons. No araests have yet been made, and the police are apparently too ineficieut tc make uny. An attempt was mrde to baeak open the Stato arsenal this morning, either to burn it or procure tho arms and munition there.? The insurance ngcuts have had more applications for policies to-day than they were able to fill. At this hour, 111*. M., everything is quiet, but people have not gone to bed. I At 11 30 a chambermaid at tho Nnil Houso ruiaed a cry of fire, and an alarm was given from the telegraph b:>x in the State Houae. The square waa almost immediately packed with exoited people. The announcomobt waa immediately made that the alarm waa false, and the feara of the people were somewhat calmed. Al .midnight the streets are filled with people. If a cat doth meet a oat upon a garden wall, and if a c it doth greet a oat, O, need thoy both to aquall f Every Tommy has his Tabby waiting on the wall, and yet he welcomes her approaoh with a yawl. And if a kitten wish to oonrt upon a garden wall, ol.il Ka ?nJ ?!.. ?J ?.VM w MV U>* HUH nvvuj 0UJIIU J IUU not stand up and bawl; lift bis prcoious back np high and show his leoth and moan, as if 'twero colio mors than love that made that fellow groan ? ?? Alcohol will clean out the inside of an inkstand. It will also clean out the. inside of a pocket book a little more thoroughly and quicker than anything on record. t* ? ' '' j {. I 0 Ma. Bufkin's First Baby.?That first baby was a great institution. As soon as ho came into this "breathing world," as the lato W. Shakespeare has it, he took command in our house. Everything was subservient to him. He regulated the temperature, ho regulated the servants, ho regulated me. For tho first six months of that precious baby's existence ho had mo up, on au average, six times a night. "Mr. Blifkin's," said my wife, "bring a light, do ; the baby looks strangely : I'm afraid it will have a fit." Of course the lamp was brought, aud of course the baby lay sucking his first, like a littlo whito boar as he was. "Mr. Blifkins," says my wife, "I thiuk I feel a draft of air J 1 wish wtmMgrsv sje if the window is not open a little, because baby might get sick," Nothing was tho matter with the window, as I knew verw well. "Mr. lilifkius," said my wife, just as I was going to sleep again, "the lamp, as you have placed it, shines directly in baby's eyes?strange that you have no more consideration." I arranged the light and went to bed again. Just as I was dropping to sleep "Mr. Blifkins," said myt wife, "did yea think to buy that broma, ta day, for tko baby ?" "My dear," said I, "will you do uu the injustice to believe that 1 could overlook a matter so essential! to the comfort of that inestimable child ?" Sho apologized very haudsomcly, but mado her auxicty the scapegoat. I forgave he?,. and without saying a word to her I addressed myself to sleep. "Mr. Blifkins," said my wife, shaking mo, "you must not fnoro so?you will wase up the baby." "Jest so?jest so," said I, h&lf asleep, thinking I was Solon Shingle. "Mr Blifkins," said my wife, "will you get up aud hand methat warm gruel from the nurse-lamp for baby ??the child ! if it wasn't for Lis mother 1 don't kuow what he would do.? How can you sleep so, Mr. Blifkins?" "I suspect my dear" said I, "that it is bcn.nwft T'm tirflil." "Oh !f.'? mm > ? x.J r.^.1 for you men to talk about being tired," said my wife, "I don't know what you would say if you had to toil and drudgo like a poor woman with a baby." I tried to soothe her by telling her she had no pcticnco, and got up for the posset. Having aided in answering to the baby's require* mcnts, I stepped into bed again, with the hope of sleeping. "Oh, dear," said U?at inestimable woman, in great npparcrfWroguish, "how can a man, who has arrived at tho honor of a live baby of his own, sleepwhen he don't know that the dear creature will live till morning 1" I remained silent, and after awhile, deeming that Mrs.. Blifkins had gone to sleep, 1 stretched my limbs for repose. How long 1 slept I don't know, but I was awakened by a furious job in the forehead from some sharp instrument. I strrtcd up, and Mrs. Blifkins was sitting up in bed, udj.usting some portions of the baby,s dress. She had, in a state of' semi-somnolence, mistaken my head for thepillow, which she customarily used for a nocturnal pincushion. I protested against such treatment in somewhat round terms, pointing to several round perforations in. my forehead. Sho told me I should willingly bear such trifling ills for the sake of the baby. I insisted upoh it that I didn't think my duty as a parent to the immortal, required the surrender of my forehoad as a pincushion. This was one of the many nights passed in this way. The baby was what every man's first baby is?an autocrat,, absolute and unlimited Such was the story of Blifkins, as he related it to ws the other day. It is a little exaggerated picturo of almost every man's experience.?Richmond' Planter and Farmer. Setting Hens.?This month all thohons should bo set that become broody ; as a rule, tbero are no chicks so hardy as March chicks; then the pallets that aro hatched this month are the ones to save for winter layers. Set IIens at night in a room by themselves. Before setting, examine to see if they hayo any lice on them or not; if they have, give them a good sprinkling of insect powder or flour of sulphur; be sure that it goes through to tho skin, and give an extra doso under the wings and at the root of tho tail. Then put the hen on bcr nest with a piece of old carpet or bag over her, which in tho morning, remove. See that she has fresh water, a dust bath, fresh food and lime where she can get at it whonevcr she feels so inclined.?Planter and Farmer. "Oh, save my wife 1" shouted a man whose wife had fallen overboard in the Hndson Hivor, recently. Tbey succeeded in reseuing her. Her husband tenderly embraced her, saying, "My dear, if you had been lost, what should I have done ?? I shall not let you carry the pocket book again." "No woman of proper self-respect," says a woman's rights journal, discussing the marriage ceremony, "will submit to be given away." Perhaps not; but, dear woman's righter, to bo "given away" is net the worst faefnvo aP fKo CJL. !- a. vmowbv vi vviouiuuy? DUO IB VUU OU (I "sold."--Exchange. Yes, and often so-old that yon must give them avaj to find a market.?register. There are Iocs of men that can tell the truth, bat it seems to hart them so bad that thoy never do it.